Summary:
This article is about the implementation of Senior Project in South Dakota, Rhode Island is not the only state making its way toward more effecient graduation requirements. It talks about the basic idea of senior project and how it should be completed. “It’s a process that gives students experience with real-world skills such as doing research, making decisions, perfecting their writing, and presentation and organizational skills,” says one of the consultants that teachers senior project workshops. It then continues to talk about a recent national study in which it was found 47% of dropouts did so because they thought that classes were not interesting enough, administrators hope that senior project will make school more interesting for these kids.
Reaction:
The description of senior project given in this article is very similar to what they first told my class and I think it is very thorough. I completely agree that students in high school need to learn that the skills they aquire in their classes DO have a purpose, and that teachers are not just "out to get them." Even something simple like doing a presentation or writing an essay can improve your possibilities for a career in the future. I was surprised when the article said that 47% of dropouts said they did so because they found school boring. I understand where they are coming from but many kids who find school boring are still able to complete what they have to and stay in school and get a diploma. I don't believe that this project's only purpose should be to motivate those few who (in my experience in my high school) probably wouldn't put much effort into it.
"Senior Projects Encourage Insight Via Sustained Effort"
Summary:
This article is about how, as successful as senior projects have been in private schools, they seem extremely rare in many public schools. The writer explains how his children (who all went to private schools) completed some pretty impressive projects for their graduation requirement. Why should these children have such a great opportunity when many public school children do not? Adults believe it is hard to convince high school students to be interested in a project that will make them do extra work when they don't even want to complete the normal tasks senior year. The writer argues that having something creative and involved will make students want to participate.
Reaction:
I found it interesting to read about the projects that the children of the author of this article completed. It seems that the reason private schools seem to be having a great deal of success with senior project is perhaps because those children have better opportunities for interesting projects. Not every parent at a public school can afford for their child to travel all over the country or has the time to help their child build something. I do however, agree with the author when he says that students will not need convincing if a project seems interesting and fun. This project should not even have to be "forced" on students because it should be something that they are excited to take part in.
Summary:
This article contains useful statistics about how high schools are failing to truly engage the students. According to a survey of over 90,000 students in 26 states, the majority of students spent only 3 hours per week on class preparation, yet most of them reported that they were getting A's and B's. Also, a surprising 18% of college-track students did not take a math class their senior year. The article continues to talk about how high school students must have more rigorous course work to prepare them for success in college. Another study found that as students progress, they are less likely to put forth their best effort in their school work. Many hope that senior project will encourage kids to do their best work.
Reaction:
I found this article interesting because I definitely spent even less than 3 hours a week on class preparation my senior year, and got all A's. School was outrageously easy last year and I felt bored and felt like I was wasting my time. I believe the reason that as students progress their work level decreases because they start out high school with motivation to do well and learn very quickly that hardly anything is expected of them. My freshman year I spent hours reading and getting every project perfect, but I started to see that kids who were putting in a quarter of the effort were receiving the same grades. So as bad is it sounds, I began to do just what I had to to keep my A's. I like that senior project is more student-driven, there is freedom for the student to decide how the project will be completed, this encourages the self-motivation that has been lost by senior year.
"State's Graduation Criteria called 'Wave of the Future'"
Summary:
This article talks about the beginning of senior project in Rhode Island schools, and how the state of R.I is a pioneer for the new graduation requirements. States all over the country are watching how R.I is implementing the new criteria and watching the outcome. Most schools only require high stakes testing while R.I uses "performance based assessments," and in 2008 for the first time over 10,000 seniors had to complete the senior exhibition project. It was a nightmare at first, trying to get everyone on board and convincing the students of the projects relevance, because as the education commissioner, Mr. McWalters said, "Do these kids, when we say they are proficient, do they have a deep understanding? Does that understanding show up when they land in college or the work force? Because it all means nothing if they end up at the community college needing remedial courses. That has to be our final measure of how well this new system works — where do they land after high school?”
Reaction:
I find it interesting that Rhode Island is sort of leading the pack for graduation requirements because, at least in warwick, I feel like we are behind in other aspects. Regardless, I am glad to be part of the move toward "performance based assessments" rather than high stakes testing, because I don't feel my intelligence or talent is shown at all on a test. I don't feel that things like SATs represent what students have actually learned through their 4 years in high school and they also don't seem to apply to the real world. One negative aspect is that, because other states are not on board, R.I schools must continue to have both testing and performance based assessments. My graduating class had to complete SATs, NECAPS, common exams, portfolio, and senior project, which seems a bit excessive to me.
Summary:
This article is saying that there is no longer time for seniors to sit back and glide their way through the final year of high school, they cannot let their minds drift half way through the year, when they have sent in their college applications and feel that they are "finished." The rest of the article quotes teens from different schools who worked on various projects with great success. Teens who said that they welcomed the project because it seemed more interesting than the monotony of the unchallenging courses they were taking. Also many students that voiced their opinions in this article seem to have found out what they want to do for a career or at least solidified what they were already considering.
Reaction:
Reading the quotes from other teens who completed the project makes me wish I got more involved with my project or came up with a better idea. Because I was so reluctant to believe the project was worth while, I was kind of rushed into making a decision about my topic and paper. I wish I had done something with what I want to do as a career because it seems as though the students were really excited when they enjoyed doing fieldwork that had to do with jobs they wanted because it made them that much more certain. I also agree that senior year should not just be a year to slack off, if a student is going to take the time to got to school every day and then just sit there, they might as well just complete high school in 3 years.
Allie Loiselle
Research Question: What are some positive and negative aspects of senior project and are students spending too much time on it?
"From Poe to Poker: Schools Raise Expectations Through Senior Project"
Citation: South Dakota Department of Education Newsletter, “Schools Raise Expectations Through Senior Project,” 2006, http://doe.sd.gov/educationonline/2006/may/art_article1.asp.
Summary:
This article is about the implementation of Senior Project in South Dakota, Rhode Island is not the only state making its way toward more effecient graduation requirements. It talks about the basic idea of senior project and how it should be completed. “It’s a process that gives students experience with real-world skills such as doing research, making decisions, perfecting their writing, and presentation and organizational skills,” says one of the consultants that teachers senior project workshops. It then continues to talk about a recent national study in which it was found 47% of dropouts did so because they thought that classes were not interesting enough, administrators hope that senior project will make school more interesting for these kids.
Reaction:
The description of senior project given in this article is very similar to what they first told my class and I think it is very thorough. I completely agree that students in high school need to learn that the skills they aquire in their classes DO have a purpose, and that teachers are not just "out to get them." Even something simple like doing a presentation or writing an essay can improve your possibilities for a career in the future. I was surprised when the article said that 47% of dropouts said they did so because they found school boring. I understand where they are coming from but many kids who find school boring are still able to complete what they have to and stay in school and get a diploma. I don't believe that this project's only purpose should be to motivate those few who (in my experience in my high school) probably wouldn't put much effort into it.
"Senior Projects Encourage Insight Via Sustained Effort"
Citation: Jay Matthews, “Senior Projects Encourage Insight Through Sustained Effort,” 2009, http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/04/26/AR2009042602177.html.
Summary:
This article is about how, as successful as senior projects have been in private schools, they seem extremely rare in many public schools. The writer explains how his children (who all went to private schools) completed some pretty impressive projects for their graduation requirement. Why should these children have such a great opportunity when many public school children do not? Adults believe it is hard to convince high school students to be interested in a project that will make them do extra work when they don't even want to complete the normal tasks senior year. The writer argues that having something creative and involved will make students want to participate.
Reaction:
I found it interesting to read about the projects that the children of the author of this article completed. It seems that the reason private schools seem to be having a great deal of success with senior project is perhaps because those children have better opportunities for interesting projects. Not every parent at a public school can afford for their child to travel all over the country or has the time to help their child build something. I do however, agree with the author when he says that students will not need convincing if a project seems interesting and fun. This project should not even have to be "forced" on students because it should be something that they are excited to take part in.
"Survey: High Schools Fail to Engage Students"
Citation: Sanoff Alvin P., “Survey: High school fails to engage students,” 2005, http://www.usatoday.com/news/education/2005-05-08-high-school-usat_x.htm.
Summary:
This article contains useful statistics about how high schools are failing to truly engage the students. According to a survey of over 90,000 students in 26 states, the majority of students spent only 3 hours per week on class preparation, yet most of them reported that they were getting A's and B's. Also, a surprising 18% of college-track students did not take a math class their senior year. The article continues to talk about how high school students must have more rigorous course work to prepare them for success in college. Another study found that as students progress, they are less likely to put forth their best effort in their school work. Many hope that senior project will encourage kids to do their best work.
Reaction:
I found this article interesting because I definitely spent even less than 3 hours a week on class preparation my senior year, and got all A's. School was outrageously easy last year and I felt bored and felt like I was wasting my time. I believe the reason that as students progress their work level decreases because they start out high school with motivation to do well and learn very quickly that hardly anything is expected of them. My freshman year I spent hours reading and getting every project perfect, but I started to see that kids who were putting in a quarter of the effort were receiving the same grades. So as bad is it sounds, I began to do just what I had to to keep my A's. I like that senior project is more student-driven, there is freedom for the student to decide how the project will be completed, this encourages the self-motivation that has been lost by senior year.
"State's Graduation Criteria called 'Wave of the Future'"
Citation: Jennifer D. Jordan, “Wave of the Future,” 2008, http://www.projo.com/news/content/graduation_requirements_05-29-08_KOAAA1K_v18.349e580.html.80.html
Summary:
This article talks about the beginning of senior project in Rhode Island schools, and how the state of R.I is a pioneer for the new graduation requirements. States all over the country are watching how R.I is implementing the new criteria and watching the outcome. Most schools only require high stakes testing while R.I uses "performance based assessments," and in 2008 for the first time over 10,000 seniors had to complete the senior exhibition project. It was a nightmare at first, trying to get everyone on board and convincing the students of the projects relevance, because as the education commissioner, Mr. McWalters said, "Do these kids, when we say they are proficient, do they have a deep understanding? Does that understanding show up when they land in college or the work force? Because it all means nothing if they end up at the community college needing remedial courses. That has to be our final measure of how well this new system works — where do they land after high school?”
Reaction:
I find it interesting that Rhode Island is sort of leading the pack for graduation requirements because, at least in warwick, I feel like we are behind in other aspects. Regardless, I am glad to be part of the move toward "performance based assessments" rather than high stakes testing, because I don't feel my intelligence or talent is shown at all on a test. I don't feel that things like SATs represent what students have actually learned through their 4 years in high school and they also don't seem to apply to the real world. One negative aspect is that, because other states are not on board, R.I schools must continue to have both testing and performance based assessments. My graduating class had to complete SATs, NECAPS, common exams, portfolio, and senior project, which seems a bit excessive to me.
"Inventing New Cures for 'Senioritis'"
Citation: Marcelle S. Fischler, “Inventing New Cures for 'Senioritis',” 2005, http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9407E3D81339F93AA15756C0A9639C8B63&pagewanted=2.9F93AA15756C0A9639C8B63&pagewanted=2
Summary:
This article is saying that there is no longer time for seniors to sit back and glide their way through the final year of high school, they cannot let their minds drift half way through the year, when they have sent in their college applications and feel that they are "finished." The rest of the article quotes teens from different schools who worked on various projects with great success. Teens who said that they welcomed the project because it seemed more interesting than the monotony of the unchallenging courses they were taking. Also many students that voiced their opinions in this article seem to have found out what they want to do for a career or at least solidified what they were already considering.
Reaction:
Reading the quotes from other teens who completed the project makes me wish I got more involved with my project or came up with a better idea. Because I was so reluctant to believe the project was worth while, I was kind of rushed into making a decision about my topic and paper. I wish I had done something with what I want to do as a career because it seems as though the students were really excited when they enjoyed doing fieldwork that had to do with jobs they wanted because it made them that much more certain. I also agree that senior year should not just be a year to slack off, if a student is going to take the time to got to school every day and then just sit there, they might as well just complete high school in 3 years.
http://newsblog.projo.com/2008/01/reporters-query-4.html
---comments from students and parents
http://www.nsba.org/HPC/Features/AboutSBN/SbnArchive/2008/June2008/Schoolboardsconsiderbenefitsofassigningseniorprojects.aspx